Australian Hand Therapy Association

Vision & Mission

AHTA’s vision is to widen the recognition of hand therapy as an area of advanced practice.

AHTA’s mission is to advance hand therapy knowledge and practice to improve outcomes for patients and the community.

Advocacy

Hand therapy practitioners are experts in treating upper limb conditions resulting from injury, disease, or deformity. These include injuries involving fingers, thumbs, hands, wrists, elbows, and shoulders.

They treat fractures, tendon injuries, peripheral nerve injuries, sprains, chronic pain, tendinopathies and arthritis. Complex injuries include but are not limited to crush injuries, amputations, burns, and hand replants. 

The AHTA advocates for the value of the advanced scope Accredited Hand Therapist and the benefits to patients of providing value-based healthcare at the local, state, and national levels. 

Accreditation

AHTA has developed the Accredited Hand Therapist credential.

To become an Accredited Hand Therapist (AHT), as awarded by the Australian Hand Therapy Association (AHTA) Credentialing Council, you must undertake Accreditation – also known as Credentialing.

An Accredited Hand Therapist:

• is an AHPRA* registered Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapist

• has demonstrated an advanced level of competence in hand therapy

• has undertaken over 300 hours of advanced upper-limb education and assessment; a one-year mentorship; and has a minimum of 3600 hours in hand therapy clinical practice

• has been assessed as qualified and competent to provide safe, evidence-based diagnosis, advice and treatment, and

• is awarded the credential of Accredited Hand Therapist by the Australian Hand Therapy Association Credentialing Council.

*Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency